Williams Hits the Jackpot

Burly Stuart Williams, the English star who is a rookie on the American Pro Bowlers Tour and had a successful 2009-2010 foray into the United States, pushed others aside and took the Squad 10 honours on Friday evening, so earning his place in Sunday’s final rounds.

Stuart Williams

Holding off a strong challenge from Sweden’s Marcus Berndt, currently a student at Wichita State University in Kansas, USA, Williams had a six point buffer when hostilities ceased.

“This tournament will always be special to me,” remarked Williams. “I’ve made the stepladder three times. It is also the first tournament I ever played outside of England. when I won it it allowed me to bowl for a living, so I always like coming back to Bowling Pedralbes in Barcelona. This tournament has one of the better formats where your score from qualification goes along into the finals. I’m usually pretty good in qualifying, so not having a Desperado squad means that the best bowler of the week can win, rather than the best bowler on just one day.That makes it a lot better for the players. The prize fund is good and Barcelona is such a beautiful city.”

Tore Torgersen, the Norwegian now firmly esconced in Sweden, took third place on the squad, 30 pins back of Berndt, and Kirsten Penny of England was her usual talented self to place fourth with 1335.

One more squad takes to the lanes Friday evening, featuring famed Pete Weber, the American pro bowler who won here with back-to-back 300 games in 2008. Business ventures meant that he missed defending his title last year, but is going to give all to stand atop the rostrum on Sunday night.

“I really want to do that again,” Weber joked. “Shooting the back-to-back 300s here as the only time in my life was great. I’ve had 23 strikes before for 599. I’ve definitely had enough practise over the past four days doing exhibitions so I’m ready for this tournament. My thumb is a little sore, but that goes with the game. So we’ll see what happens tonight.”